MONTREAL WINS BID FOR GAY GAMES VII

Federation of Gay Games returns quadrennial sport and cultural festival to North America in 2006: Torch will pass from Gay Games 2002 to be held in Sydney JOHANNESBURG, 25 October 2001- The Federation of Gay Games announced today that Montreal, Canada will host Gay Games VII in 2006. Voting members of the Federation selected Montreal after hearing presentations from four bidding cities. Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles also made bids to host the 2006 Games at the Federation's annual meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is the first time the games will be held in North America since New York City hosted the fourth edition in 1994. "We are proud to name Montreal as host for Gay Games VII in 2006," said Gene Dermody, male co-president of The Federation of Gay Games. "Montreal's team demonstrated an overall knowledge and keen understanding of what it takes to make the Gay Games a successful event and we look forward to our partnership in the years to come. " Cities vie for the opportunity to host the Gay Games not only for the infusion of millions of dollars from thousands of participants and observers into their local economies, but also as a statement of civic pride, diversity and inclusiveness. As the benefits of hosting a Gay Games have become more widely known, the bidding process has become highly competitive. "We are delighted and honoured to be chosen by the Federation of Gay Games as host city of Gay Games VII," said Mark Tewksbury, 100 metre gold medallist at the 1992 Olympics and honourary co-president of Montreal 2006. "We believe that Montreal, working with the Federation, will host a spectacular Gay Games and take the movement and its values of participation, inclusion and personal best forward in the years leading up to 2006." About The Federation of Gay Games The Federation of Gay Games is the international governing body that perpetuates the quadrennial Gay Games and promotes the event's founding principles of inclusion, participation and personal best. The Gay Games was conceived by Dr. Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete, and was first held in San Francisco in 1982 with 1,350 participants. Subsequent Gay Games were held in San Francisco (1986; 3,500 participants), Vancouver (1990; 7,000 participants), New York (1994; 11,000 participants), and Amsterdam (1998; 14,000 participants). About 14,000 participants are expected to travel to Sydney in 2002 for Gay Games VI.